Diaz wrote:I'd set up my own religion claiming contact with alien beings, or a healing cult......dammit, scrub that - it's already been done.

I'm unsure if I would need to do very much to brainwash people, it seems there is no claim that is too outrageous for someone to follow. Especially if it sounds even vaguely scientific, I think I would abuse Quantum Physics a lot, no one really understands it anyway. You'd just have to appeal to ideas of persecution and conspiracism while doing so, people love feeling like they are fighting an unkind establishment.

As for abuse, it obviously would require lots and lots of money to carry the master plan out. If you introduced sex and beer it would be even more attractive, except I'd keep that all for myself and my inner circle.